RECENT NEWS

Oxford Nanopore Technologies and AI-driven genomic decision support software company SeqOne have announced a new partnership, which will enable end-to-end analytical workflows from sample to report, focusing on rare diseases in the short-term and oncology in the longer-term.

Digital clinical diagnostics and diabetes home-testing provider Digostics has revealed the results from its ground-breaking gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remote screening collaboration with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS), a partnership that saw expectant mothers in Hampshire become the first globally to access an oral-glucose tolerance test (OGTT) without needing to attend clinic.

Cepheid has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for Xpert Xpress GBS, a dual-target molecular diagnostic test for the qualitative intrapartum detection of group B Streptococcus (GBS). This next-generation test incorporates new dual targets in highly-conserved regions of the GBS genome to improve sensitivity and bacterial strain coverage.

Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca has outlined plans to invest £650 million in the UK – helping boost the UK’s world leading life sciences sector and grow the economy. This significant investment will enhance public health protection and pandemic preparedness.

Alpha Laboratories has launched the Picus 2, the latest advancement in electronic pipetting technology from Sartorius. Designed to elevate the pipetting experience, Picus 2 offers unparalleled precision, speed, and connectivity, setting a new standard for laboratory pipettes.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget has given the NHS a funding boost as part of an investment package for better public services, labelled a ‘Budget for Long Term Growth’ by the Treasury.

The first prototype that uses artificial intelligence for colorectal diagnosis has been developed by Portuguese researchers from the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC), in Porto, and the IMP Diagnostics Molecular & Anatomic Pathology laboratory.

Laboratory supplier Medical Wire & Equipment (MWE) received a returned product recently – nothing unusual there you might think, except this product was almost 40 years old!

AI-powered cancer diagnostics firm Ibex Medical Analytics, and image sharing platform for pathology PathPresenter, have announced a partnership to advance the adoption of AI-powered digital pathology. The two companies will work together to support joint customers via an AI-powered digital pathology solution for laboratories, hospitals and health systems worldwide.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to distribute its DxFLEX Clinical Flow Cytometer in the United States. Launched regionally in 2020, this advancement brings the popular benchtop IVD flow cytometry system to American laboratories while expanding testing capabilities.

A recent survey shows concern from US laboratories about patient access to laboratory developed tests (LDTs) if the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) goes ahead with its proposal to regulate such tests. Many have said they would have to react to new regulation by withdrawing tests from the marketplace.

John Pye Auctions, established in 1968, is the UK’s leading commercial auction house. Throughout 2024, it is hosting weekly online auction sales featuring a variety of brand-name, high-quality medical and laboratory machinery, as well as consumables. These items cover the areas of manufacturing, testing, research, packing, and storage.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has welcomed the recent publication of the Government’s Rare Disease Action Plan 2024, which highlights the work that has so far been done by the NIHR, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and others over the last year to better address the needs of people with rare diseases.

Neurocode USA, a specialised clinical laboratory offering testing solutions for neurological disorders, has announced the clinical launch of ALZpath Dx, an innovative and novel blood test that can be used in the screening, diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on circulating level of pTau217 in the blood.

The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) has launched the 2024 edition of its Achievement Awards, with a new category recognising sustainability added this year.

Researchers at Metabolomycs, a California-based biotechnology company, have for the first time applied targeted mass spectrometry to show that pancreatic cancer arises through changes in cellular metabolism and that these changes can be measured with a simple blood test.

Aiosyn, a medical software company specialising in AI-powered pathology solutions for cancer and kidney disease, has announced the introduction of its NephroPath platform. By partnering with Aiosyn, CROs, biopharma, and researchers can accelerate the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) therapies using new and quantitative insights offered through Nephropath’s kidney image analysis services.

INTEGRA Biosciences has launched its new MAG and HEATMAG modules for efficient, automated magnetic bead purification. These innovative solutions allow researchers to streamline several processing steps in molecular biology and proteomics workflows for maximum throughput.

Cirdan’s Pathology Horizons event returns for 2024 with its first post-pandemic event, taking place in Bath from 18-20 April. The agenda is now available and delegate registration are open.

Bruker Corporation has announced that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire ELITechGroup, excluding the carved out ELITech clinical chemistry business. The deal was agreed late in 2023 and has now been approved by workers’ council consultations in France and The Netherlands.